Fireweed Rise Everybody Knows

For @Elle <3

Her liaison with the delirious Don Juan seemed to have done the trick, her body shifting back into its normal equilibrium; Free of the haunting itch, clouding her mind. Now she was free to pursue the true reason for her crossing the mountain in the first place; And not a moment too soon! She really should be on her way back already, and yet here she was, still stalking the outskirts of the Willows’ hunting grounds, trying and failing to come up with a better strategy. By now she had a pretty good idea of their numbers and most regular routines, but none of it gave her a way in. She was a smart enough girl, but the task she had been set was not an easy one. And it was certain that simply walking up to a pack border and asking questions about their members wasn’t gonna get her the answers she needed.

She was running out of time though, and more and more of it seemed to be spend hunting. Today too, her stomach had steered her thoughts away from scheming and towards the ever pressing issue of food. So with an annoyed grunt, she’d gone south, to the open lands beyond the Willows, tired of chasing hares and martens through the woods. They hardly seemed to satisfy her hunger for more than a minute anyway, but she would be hard pressed to take down anything bigger on her own. She would have much preferred to take up her old talent of scavenging, but this time of year, the competition was fiercer than ever, and her stomach could not bear to wait.

So she was left to do all the hard work herself, but at least it payed off, and she managed to land herself a young Marmot. Tough and scraggly, as everything this time of year, but at least it was bigger than a squirrel, and she wasted little time in chowing down on her catch, eager to sate this strange, new hunger and get back to her real task.

Word count: 344
"Speech" Thoughts

Home, she had to be getting closer, each pawstep crunching through the snow, the russet colored pup breathing heavily as she paused on the small ridge. She had been away, far longer than she could remember, the past hazy but she remembered her family. The sickness that overridden her sense of direction finally starting to clear up, or so her caretaker had told her before sending her off to find her way home. Her pale blue eyes were dull, searching for the vast draping willows that had always marked her home. She still had a home, she hoped, she had vanished, but haven't exactly been of her own voluntary will. Elle gulped quietly, stepping out onto the low rise before a sneezing fit over took her, causing her to jolt violently.

Once the fit passed, A low groan escaped the youth, her silvery mask scrunching up in frustration as she sniffed, her sense of smell clogged up by the cold she had. This place seemed sorta familiar, except ti didn’t at the same time. A frustrated whine escaped as Elle sighed, an idea formed, maybe if she called out, someone would answer, she must be close enough to the Ridge now, or she wasn't thinking clearly, but at this point she was desperate. Turning her cream and rust colored snout toward the sky, She let a desperate plea emit, consequences be damned on who it bought, no one could be worse than what she had faced.

@Elle

But barely had she torne into the sweet flesh, when a shrill howl drew her attention. White jowls stained red with blood, she raised her head to look for the nuisance, brows furrowed in irritation. She’d be hard pressed to defend her meal if a whole pack suddenly came running to answer the pathetic call. Golden eyes narrowing, she searched the snowy landscape, soon finding the culprit. She was easy enough to spot, russet fur standing out stark against the white backdrop, much like her own, the Oaken scout suspected. Yet, she was surprised to discover that it was just a kid, standing skinny-legged on the nearby hilltop; The hell’s she doing out here crying, all alone?! She’d sounded half dead.

Frowning deeply, Nalda turned to face the pup, mouth twisting into a sneer as she called sharply: “Ehi! Y’tryin’ t’attract every damn pred’ter ‘round here?” Wolves weren’t the only hunters smart enough to react to wolf howls, and she had as little interest in tackling a gang of coyotes as she had a wolf pack. And honestly, hearing that whimper might make them come for the sad creature who made it; Looks like they could take her too, the idiot! It wouldn’t be the first time a young wolf had fallen prey to a rival, and if she was dumb enough to openly announce herself to them, maybe it served her right. Nalda snorted, turning back towards her own kill; But then, I best get out of here before they arrive!

Word count: 252
"Speech" Thoughts

Because of work, my activity will fluctuate every other week. For more information and OOC preferrences check out my profile

A voice broke out shortly after her pathetic call went up. Elle’s ears perked, her head jerking toward the origins down below the rise she rested on. It was a larger wolf, female and gruff speaking. Elle didn't recognize her, but she couldn’t get a clear indication of the wolf’s scent with her clogged up nose. She flinched at the sharp words. The predators, she hadn't thought about that at all, all she wanted was to find the willows and her family.

The female started to turn, the pup bit back another whine as she scrambled down the hill, skidding to a stop, just stopping herself from tumbling into the dirt and snow. “W-wait please!” she shouted, the exhausted child heaved as she lagged after the left few yards between the two “Please! Are you with WIllow Ridge? Do you know where they’re at?” incautious about revealing information about her home, she just wanted to get back there, so see her father, mom, and her siblings again. “please, do you know mom? Or dad?”

She had already bended down to grab her kill when her ears snapped back at the sound of cascading snow. Her head spun, teeth bared warningly as she stared down the runt skidding to a stop just behind her. “B’ck’off shrimp! M’not y’ma, ‘n I ain’t feedin’ y’m'scraps.” But despite her scrawniness, the pup didn’t appear to be interested in the food; She really is an idiot..! Instead she started asking questions, her babbling voice rather grating, and Nalda rolled her eyes, pressing her ears down harder to try and block it out as she turned back to her marmot.

But, luckily, she wasn’t very successful, and the mention of Willow Ridge promptly brought her full attention on the kid, head snapping back around. Could she really be this fortuitous? That a solution to her problem had just walked right up to her? In one swift, fluid motion, her demeanor completely changed, hostile grimace shifting into a smile, and raised hackles smoothing out. One ear perked up and her head tilted slightly as she looked down at the kid, voice much softer now: “Willo’Ridge y’say? They live there, y’mom’n da’?” Her tail gave a slow, oscillating sway, eyes fixed on the pup now, glittering hungrily; “Y’ run’away or’somethin’?”

Word count: 208
"Speech" Thoughts

Because of work, my activity will fluctuate every other week. For more information and OOC preferrences check out my profile

The terrified girl yelped and scrambled backwards as the older female’s hackles rose, she turned, snapping her fangs at the pup protective of her kill. It wasn’t even what she had been after, sure a meal would be nice, beneficial even, but she tried to hold out, Willow Ridge HAD to be close, Close enough that she get back home and eat then.

She must have said something that Nalda wanted to hear, just how quickly her demeanor changed gave the desperate child hope that maybe she did at least known the pack location. Elle nodded her head quickly, hopeful that this kind stranger would be able to help her. “Yes!” she squealed, her voice breaking as she paused, coughing. Once the fit passed her, she heaved a bit, panting and flopping down onto her haunches. “My Mom, and Dad, their the leaders, Enoki and Nicolo ma’am, do you know them? The wolf’s question caused her to shake her head vigorously, she swallowed, “N-no! I got lost and….alot happened.” she said, she wouldn’t have run away, it had been her home, she was loved and cared for there, all she wanted was to get back.

She had to keep from licking her lips as she watched the young girl, the meal forgotten at her feet, all focus now on this fresh opportunity. The kid seemed mostly unaffected by her frosty reception, nodding wildly at the innocuous question and squealing excitedly. Nalda’s eyes narrowed a smidge, but she kept up the friendly smile, her teeth hurting slightly from being clenched so hard. It was a struggle to hide her impatience while the child coughed, nose wrinkling slightly, but her facade otherwise unbroken. She couldn’t afford to slip, this scraggly pup, however annoying, was the chance she’d been waiting for! And every word out of her mouth only made that even more apparent; The leaders’ lost child..! She might prove a veritable gold mine of information, and a surefire ticket to gain even more.

Over-sized, russet ears stayed poised, hanging on every new clue given by the young shewolf; More or less wittingly. “S’pose y’ been’gone for’while then?” She finally drawled, thoughtfully, still keeping up the kindly exterior. It was clear enough that the kid hadn’t been too well cared for in a while, all scraggly and snotty; They’ll be overjoyed to have her back..! Smile growing wider, she nodded once at the pup, giving her tail a small flick. “Th’Ridge’snt far from’ere, I’can take y’,” she offered, as if it was a big sacrifice of hers, giving no hint that it had been her destination all along; No need for her to know that.

Just then, her stomach gave an audible rumple, splitting her smile into an annoyed grimace. “Once I’ve finished this,” She added, turning unceremoniously to continue her meal, teeth tearing quickly at the meat, as she was still weary of the previously mentioned rivals.

Word count: 291
"Speech" Thoughts

Because of work, my activity will fluctuate every other week. For more information and OOC preferrences check out my profile

There is a rabbit's nest nearby. +1 Health